Biology

Physiology

Arcanine is a quadruped, canine-like Pokémon that resembles the mythical Ryukyuan Shisa (a cross between a lion and a dog). Its head is covered in a cream-colored hair, except for the region around its eyes and ears, which is orange. Its body is a combination of the same orange fur with black stripes and completely black fur on its belly. It also has patches of cream-colored fur on its chest, legs, and tail, resembling smoke. Its paws each have three toes and a round pink paw pad underneath.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Arcanine can spit large trails of flame, as well as run with extreme speed. Like other Template:Type2 Pokémon, Arcanine has a flame (or possibly a flame sac) within its body. Arcanine is capable of learning a variety of tooth-based moves such as Thunder Fang, Fire Fang, Crunch, etc. Since Arcanine is now fully evolved, it is capable of learning powerful moves such as Hyper Beam and Giga Impact.

Behavior

Arcanine are prized Pokémon, admired due to many people thinking of it as beautiful and regal. Arcanine has been depicted to stash food (such as Pecha Berries) in the voluminous fur of its mane, fishing the food out for its Growlithe youngsters to eat at its nest.

Habitat

Arcanine live in active volcanoes, grassy plains, and scorched fields heated by geothermal energy. They have also been depicted to live in mountains. It is found within the same range that Growlithe are found, which includes Kanto, Johto, Sinnoh, Fiore, Almia and China.

In The Stolen Stones, two Trainers named Ramona and Keegan had three Arcanine, one under the ownership of Keegan and two under his sister Ramona. They were using the Template:Type2 Pokémon to deliver some Fire Stones to be used as prizes for a local Fire-Pokémon tournament. The two Trainers used their Arcanine to save Ash, Misty, and Brock from falling off a cliff.

Minor appearances

In Pokémon Emergency!, Arcanine was one of the four legendary Pokémon on the tablet at the Viridian City Pokémon Center, despite not actually being a legendary Pokémon, however this may reflect its species description as the "Legendary" Pokémon.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Crystal has an Arcanine, whom she uses for transportation at times. It is able to hit targets fast and hard using its ExtremeSpeed. As explained in a flashback in Volume 11, Arcanine was a wild Pokémon from Mt. Mortar whose left eye was injured five years ago. The cause is revealed to be a Larvitar prankster, whom Crystal manages to capture and regain the confidence that was ruined by her failed capture of Suicune.

In Volume 9, Blue captured a wild Arcanine that he added to his Gym team and trained to the point of being able to defeat any challenger without its Trainer present, again leaving no doubt that he is fittingly named the Trainer.

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, it describes itself as having a speed that no one can match, but it is tied at the 103rd fastest Pokémon with 23 others. However, this may refer to one of its moves, ExtremeSpeed.

Arcanine and Ninetales may be references to male and female beauty, respectively, considering their gender ratios and the fact that many of their Pokédex entries talk about their sheer beauty.

Origin

Arcanine is based on the Ryukyuan シーサー shisa, or koma-inu. They are mythical creatures that take inspiration from lions, tigers, and dogs. Statues of them in pairs are used as guardians and to invite good luck. It could also be based on the Haetae, a mythical fire-eating dog with similarities to lions and tigers.

Name origin

Arcanine is a combination of arcane (mysterious or secret) and canine.